Secret history of buildings - March 2019

Jane Hanks discovers that Locronan, in Finistère, is much more than a perfectly preserved setting for filming historical dramas

Brittany’s movie-set village with rich history of its own

Locronan, 17km north-west of Quimper in Finistère, has often been chosen as the backdrop to historical films because of its granite houses and buildings which have remained untouched since the 17th and 18th centuries.

It is extremely picturesque and attracts 600,000 visitors a year. But it is not just a pretty village, selling arts and crafts to tourists. It also has a rich history.